ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR THE ONS

OLD NORTHAMPTONIANS 25-41 LUTTERWORTH

The ONs suffered their fifth loss in the seven league games played since the Christmas break going down 41-25 at Billing Road.

Lutterworth had secured a try bonus point early in the second quarter and led 22-13 at the break and 34-13 with just over fifty minutes played before a mini revival from the ONs reduced the deficit to nine points.However any hopes of a home side victory were ended with a late converted try taking the final score to 41-25.

Just centres Alex Crofts and Ben Rivans remained of the backs who had started at Leighton Buzzard,Charlie Barker making his first appearance of the season at full back,Mike Bellamy and Jake Spencer coming in on the wings and Adam Civil and Richard Blank lining up at fly half and scrum half respectively.Matt Bedden started in the second row and the replacements were Pete Hosking,Kieran O’Connor and Guy Holt making a welcome return after 15 weeks out injured.

Lutterworth took an early lead after they had kicked off playing down the Billing Road slope going over from a lineout drive and when number 8 Josh Connor finished a pushover and Tom Hooper converted they led 12-0 with less than 10 minutes played.Guy Holt made an immediate impact after coming off the bench for the injured Ash Fullthorpe,driving over from close range but when the ONs failed to deal with the restart,conceding a scrum,Lutterworth centre George Ball strode through some weak tackling for try number three.An attack after the visitors had gained lineout possession 40 metres from the ONs line was touched down by Joe Sullivan and Lutterworth had their bonus point with less than 30 minutes on the clock to lead 22-5.Alex Crofts was in support to register his eleventh try of the season following a Charlie Barker break and although Ben Rivans missed the conversion attempt he landed penalty shortly after to make the score 22-13 at half time.

Lutterworth started the second half strongly as they had done the first with scrum half Conor Warburton on hand to dive over after Connor had made inroads.Luke Ball converted and then scored the try of the afternoon as some superb handling moved the ball from just inside the ONs half.A quickly taken penalty was driven on by the ONs forwards and Adam Civil found space on the outside to go over in the corner and Holt scored his second and Rivans added the two points to make it 34-25 with just over 10 minutes to play.Powerful bursts from Civil and Crofts threatened briefly but as the half drew to a close Warburton’s second and Luke Ball’s conversion took the final score to 41-25.

Next week the ONs travel to Melton Mowbray 3pm kick off.

ONs:Charlie Barker,Jake Spencer,Alex Crofts,Ben Rivans,Mike Bellamy,Adam Civil,Richard Blank,Aaron Cort,Olly Bland,Ash Fullthorpe,Chris Read,Matt Bedden,Zach Draper,Dave Irvine,Craig Stewart.

Replacements:Pete Hosking,Kieran O’Connor,Guy Holt

Man of the Match:Adam Civil